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HALF MOON SERIES 



EDITED BY 

MAUD WILDER GOODWIN 
ALICE CARRINGTON ROYCE 
RUTH PUTNAM AND 
EVA PALMER BROWNELL 

Vol. ILlNo. fiflEce) 



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Ube "Beutral (3roun6 



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Cbarlea pr^er 



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Copyright, 1898, by 

Q. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 
New York London 

Ube ftntclierbocfier press. New Rochelle, N. Y. 
Entered at the Post Office, New Rochelle, N. Y., as Second-class Matter 



Price Ten Cents 



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2nd COPY, 
1898. 







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THE "NEUTRAL GROUND 



407 



Half Moon Series 

Published in the Interest of the New York 
City History Club. 



Volume II. Number XII. 



THE "NEUTRAL GROUND." 



409 



By CHARLES PRYER. 

DURING the War of the Revolution the 
County of Westchester, and particu- 
larly the lower towns (now forming the 
Borough of Bronx or Bronck's'), was the prey 
of the foraging parties of both armies, as it 
lay directly between them and was perma- 
nently occupied by neither. Being common 
property to both parties, it was, therefore, 
called the "Neutral Ground." The views of 
the inhabitants themselves at the outset of the 
struggle were much divided, and if popular 
sentiment was not absolutely loyal to the 
crown of Great Britain, it was much more 
conservative than in New England or in the 
southern colonies. 

Many of the leading families were staunch 
loyalists and afterwards prominent leaders of 
the Royalist Refugees. Amongst these were 
the Van Courtlandts, DeLanceys, Philipses, and 



location 

of tbe 

" IHeutral 

(3roun^ " 



4IO 



Zbc **lFleutral OroimO " 



IPiCWB of 

its Tins 
babitants 



Wilkinses, and these were the names which 
the people of that period were accustomed to 
follow. On the other side, however, were the 
Morrises, Livingstons, and Tomkynses, fam- 
ilies who belonged in the same region, so that 
parties may be said to have been pretty evenly 
divided. The first meetings called to consider 
the question of electing delegates to Congress 
were broken up by the violent efforts of Phil- 
ipse, Wilkins, and other Royalists, and when 
the matter was finally decided in the affirm- 
ative, the delegates chosen were instructed 
to do nothing disloyal to "the government 
of his Majesty the King," and it is an historic 
fact that New York was the last colony to 
authorize its delegates in the Continental Con- 
gress to sign the Declaration of Independence. 
This conservatism, however, was not al- 
together induced by loyalty to the British 
government, but by a selfish interest. It 
was perfectly self-evident to such men as 
"Squire" Van Cortlandt, Oliver de Lancey, 
and others, that one of the main objects of 
the home government, in case of war, would 
be to separate the more southern from the 
New England colonies, and New York was 
the keystone of this position. With her deep 
harbor, and the broad Hudson stretching far 
to the northward, it would be easy for Eng- 
land to bring in her invincible fleet, and with 
it materially aid any army that might invade 



Zbc **1Reutral arouu&" 



411 



the State from loyal Canada ; so what they 
feared, and what actually came to pass, was 
that the locality would be made the theatre 
of war and devastation. 

But let us follow events more in detail. 
Boston had been evacuated, and the brothers 
Howe had sailed from Halifax ; already ru- 
mors were current that the General had been 
largely re-enforced, and that My Lord the Ad- 
miral had taken his entire command on board 
his magnificent and irresistible fleet, and was 
on his way to capture New York. Washing- 
ton was even now in the city to defend it with 
the Continental army. On June 28, 1776, the 
British fleet appeared, and General Howe's 
troops were landed upon Staten Island without 
opposition. Washington had entirely too 
much ground to cover with his meagre force 
of eighteen thousand men, a large proportion 
being raw troops, and he found it impossible 
to defend that comparatively distant point. 

It will be necessary here, to understand the 
campaign in the Neutral Ground, to give a 
short sketch of the capture of New York and 
Brooklyn Heights. It is now conceded that 
Washington made a mistake in attempting to 
defend New York with the very limited re- 
sources then at his command, but he was 
urged to do so both by the inhabitants and 
by Congress, and his own good judgment 
was entirely outweighed. Howe lost much 



lanMng 
of tbe 
JBritisb 
■Croops 
upon 
Staten 
Uslanfc 



4' 



Zbc '^meutral OrounD " 



Capture of 
36rool!l?n 
1}eigbt0 



time in vain attempts to negotiate a peace 
with the exasperated colonies. It may be 
here said to his credit, that he always carried 
the olive-branch with the sword, and fought 
with the greatest reluctance, so it was not 
until August 22, that he landed at Graves End, 
with twenty thousand men, his army in the in- 
terim having been augmented by the arrival 
of Sir Henry Clinton from the South. To 
oppose this force the Americans had nine 
thousand men under General Putnam. Most 
of these were behind earthworks on Brookh'n 
Heights, and on a wooded ridge commanding 
some of the roads from Graves End. 

Howe spent several days in reconnoitring, 
and it was not until August 27, that any 
serious advance was made ; then he sent his 
brother, the Admiral, to threaten the city with 
the fleet and to keep Washington occupied, 
while he attacked the forces under Putnam. 
Four roads led from his Graves End camp to- 
wards the Continental lines, one of which ran 
along the shore, which was defended by Gen- 
eral Lord Sterling with his division. Against 
this renegade Scotch peer, Howe sent General 
Grant with his Highlanders. Two of the re- 
maining three roads joined near the village of 
Flatbush, and crossed the ridge which was de- 
fended by General Sullivan ; and here advanced 
General Heister with his Hessians. The fourth 
was the Jamaica Road, along which the main 



Tlbe ''IReutral (BrounD" 



413 



body of the army marched with Howe him- 
self, Clinton, Percy, and Cornwallis at their 
head. Their object was to march by the 
ridge where Sullivan was stationed, and then 
to wheel near the village of Bedford in order 
to attack him on the flank and rear. In this 
movement Howe undoubtedly out-generaled 
Putnam ; Sullivan was completely routed, 
with the loss (including those of Sterling's 
division) of about four hundred killed and 
wounded, and one thousand taken prisoners ; 
among the latter was the General himself. 

The troops of Sterling did much better 
fighting, and it was not until Sullivan was 
defeated, and the main army of Howe joined 
Grant, that the Maryland brigades gave ground. 
Even then they succeeded in gaining Put- 
nam's main line without disorder. Howe's 
troops were now tired, and he did not ad- 
vance at once against the works on Brooklyn 
Heights. Washington at first re-enforced Put- 
nam, supposing an immediate assault would 
be made, but finding Howe was in no hurry 
to fight, and seemed rather inclined to lay 
seige to the position, he took advantage of a 
very dense fog on the night of August 29, 
evacuated the forts, and took his entire army 
over to the New York shore. This is one of 
the most masterly retreats in the face of a 
superior force on record, and if Howe had 
shown his ability in his flanking march on 



ton 
IRctreate 

from 
^Srootil^n 



414 



Ubc "IReutral 0roun^" 



perilous 
position 

of 
Putnam's 
CommanD 



the night of the twenty-seventh, Washington 
more than equalled him by his brilliant retreat 
on the night of the twenty-ninth, or two days 
later. Washington, with the main body of 
the army, retired to Harlem Heights, where he 
established himself in a very strong position, 
leaving Putnam with four thousand men in 
the city proper. 

In 1776, the city of New York did not ex- 
tend beyond Chatham Street, and the Island 
was much narrower at that period, as several 
blocks have been filled in on both rivers since 
those days; thus the command in the town 
did not have so much territory to cover as 
might appear at first sight, but it was perfectly 
self-evident that, from the moment that Long 
Island was lost, the city could not be held, and 
that Putnam's stay would be short ; his posi- 
tion was, indeed, extremely perilous, for could 
Howe get some troops up either river in his 
ships, to a point between the city and the 
Continental army, he could land them, cut off 
the four thousand under Putnam, and capture 
his entire command. 

Howe, seeing all this, sent two ships up the 
Hudson to Bloomingdale, disembarked his 
army on the other side of the Island at Kip's 
Bay (near the foot of the present East 34th 
Street), and attempted to cut off Putnam's 
division ; but the genial gentleman was too 
strong for the soldier. Mrs. Robert Murray, 



Zbc *'1Reutral (3roun0" 



415 



understanding the condition of things thor- 
oughly, and seeing Howe and his staff pass- 
ing, invited the General and officers to lunch 
with her. A halt was immediately called, and 
the lunchparty commenced which saved the 
American cause one general officer and four 
thousand men; for while this entertainment 
was in progress Putnam marched his entire 
division northward and joined Washington. 

Howe now had New York, but it was of 
very little use to him so long as Washington's 
army occupied a strong position extending 
from the mouth of "Harlem Creek" right 
across the Island to the Hudson. The British 
commander, however, had two alternatives 
besides a direct assault ; he could pass be- 
tween Forts Lee and Washington with his 
fleet, ascend the Hudson, and make the po- 
sition of the Americans untenable by landing 
in their rear. But to do this he would have to 
stand the fire from the forts, which might do 
considerable damage to his men-of-war and 
transports. The East River, or Sound, was, 
however, entirely free from forts, and afforded 
him almost as good an opportunity of getting 
into the rear of the Americans as the Hudson; 
this alternative was therefore selected, and on 
October 12, 1776, Howe embarked the greater 
part of his army and sailed up the Sound or 
East River as far as Throg's Neck^ (now a por- 
tion of Greater New York), where he landed, 



general 

tbowc tn 

Iposseesion 

of mew 

ISoctt 



4i6 



Zbc **1Reutral (5roun^" 



Xrbc ffigbt 
at ipcU 
barn's 
Heck 



leaving Lord Percy to keep Washington occu- 
pied at Harlem. He hoped by this movement 
to get directly in the rear of the Continental 
army, and so force it either to surrender, or 
entirely to rout and scatter it; but the rebels 
had not been sleeping. 

General Heath, with a force of several 
thousand men, had been sent to defend the 
causeway and tear down the bridges across 
Westchester Creek, so it would be impossible 
for Howe to gain the rear of the Americans 
without a fight. Howe did not care to ad- 
vance through a marsh in the face of so strong 
a force, and delayed on the Neck six days, in 
which little but ineffective skirmishing was 
accomplished. At the end of this period he 
took to his boats again, proceeded northeast 
about three miles, landed his forces on Pell's 
Neck' or Pelham Neck, (now Pelham Park), 
and advanced towards the Albany and Boston 
roads. Heath threw a couple of brigades in 
his way, and attempted to check his progress. 
For a time quite a spirited fight was the re- 
sult; but the Americans were out-numbered 
and compelled to retire with a loss of about ten 
killed and forty wounded. Howe had at last 
succeeded in reaching the place he wanted, but 
it was too late for his purpose of capturing 
the Continental army; for the Americans had 
evacuated Manhattan Island, except Fort 
Washington, and were now comparatively 



Ube ''Bcutral GrounD" 



417 



safe on Chatterton Heights, near the village of 
White Plains. For a few days Howe's army 
covered a wide field, and we hear of some of 
his troopers almost as far north as the Con- 
necticut line. This, however, was probably 
done merely in search of forage, for he soon 
concentrated them on the Albany Road near 
the scene of the recent engagement. 

It was a beautiful autumnal morning, Oct- 
ober 2}, 1776, that the greatest military 
pageant took place that the fair county of 
Westchester ever saw, at all events in the 
eighteenth century. Howe, preparatory to 
following Washington, drew up his entire 
army for review, along the road and on the 
meadows (very near the present boundary- 
line between the city, and the now much cur- 
tailed County of Westchester), then known as 
Pelham and Eastchester flats. Some ten thou- 
sand men took part in the ceremonies, and 
the effect must, indeed, have been inspiring 
and beautiful. The bright scarlet of the British 
regulars, contrasted well with the more sombre 
green of Knyphausen's Hessians, and with the 
background of the yellow sedge grass covered 
with sparkling frost. This was a fine picture 
by which, on that chill October morning, to 
impress the inhabitants with the invincible 
power of England's chivalry, and the politic 
commander had thought it wise to invite a 
few of the more distinguished proprietors of 



Ubc 
"Oreat 
IRcview " 

of 

(Bcneral 

lljowe's 

Brmie 



418 



Zbc "IReutral Ground" 



"Cbc 

"Orcat 

tRcvicw" 

of 
Ocncral 
lbowc'8 
Hrms 



loyal tendencies to witness the affair. There 
was the fiery Philipse, and the philanthropic 
colonist who is said to have sprung from the 
grand old House of "Kourlandt" (Cortlandt), 
to witness the glorious return of their sover- 
eign's banner, and, while the bands played and 
the sun glistened upon the bright arms of the 
troops, this little band of officers and gentle- 
men rode along the lines and inspected the 
army. As the sun rose higher in the heavens 
the day became warm and genial with that 
Indian summer balminess, so common to our 
American autumn. By noon the party before 
alluded to, were glad to halt for refreshments 
under the golden shade of what, even then, 
must have been a group of grand old chestnuts. 
That lunch just before the march to White 
Plains has become historic, and the old resi- 
dent can still point out the trees with pride to 
any visitor who may be passing that way. 
Let us hope, however, that the meal of these 
fine gentlemen was not spoiled by the pres- 
ence of that rough old German, the Count 
von Knyphausen, who, though a dashing 
soldier and a brave man, was no courtier, 
and anything but a pleasant dining companion. 
All that is left of this gallant assembly, are the 
old trees that have defied all change in this 
change-loving land, and as recently as the 
beginning of the winter (1897-98) still 
stood, the only landmarks of those long- 



XTbe ^'IReiitral erounO" 



419 



departed days. But, old trees, you are not to 
stand here always. Though you may have seen 
the Indians of the seventeenth century; Wash- 
ington, Howe, and Clinton, of the eighteenth; 
and all the celebrities of the nineteenth; yet 
those trunks of yours, sixteen feet in circum- 
ference though they be, are but hollow shells; 
the gales of two hundred winters have lopped 
many a fair limb, and ere the twentieth century 
shall grow old the squirrel will no longer 
play on your boughs, nor the frosts of autumn 
turn your leaves to gold ! 

In the fall of 1876, just a hundred years after 
the day of the "Great Review," two gentle- 
men were lunching under the same old trees. 
"The days of old" were discussed, and the 
historic spot examined in all its bearings; but 
after a time the conversation flagged, and they 
sat gazing up into the shady trees, whose 
leaves were f^ist turning into those brilliant 
hues with which the American forest-trees bid 
good-bye to summer, when the elder man 
turned to his companion and said: "Here is 
the pistol which my grandfather carried when 
with General Howe on the day of the 'Grand 
Review,' when they lunched under these 
trees just before the Battle of White Plains; 
now, as 1 want you to remember this occasion, 
I present you with the derringer as a memento 
of the anniversary of that parade." As they 
gazed upon this weapon of a former age, the 



Zbc 

"©reat 

IRcvfew " 

of 
©cncral 
Ibowe'B 
Hrms 



420 



Ubc "IReutral OrounO" 



Zbe 
SlilnncrB 

and 
Cowboys 



nineteenth century seemed to fade into the 
Indian summer mist, and they could only see 
the scarlet of the British regulars and the green 
of their Hessian allies; the figures of the chi- 
valric Cornwallis; the gallant but peace-loving 
Howe, and the rough old soldier, Knyphausen. 

But to return to our narrative. The day af- 
ter the " Grand Review " Howe went in pur- 
suit of the Continental army and on October 
28, stormed Chatterton Heights near White 
Plains, and forced Washington to retire to 
North Castle. He himself, however, did not 
go f;irther, but soon withdrew to the city 
proper, to rest and refresh his troops, evi- 
dently thinking he had done enough for one 
campaign. 

We have now finished with the great armies 
of either party in the Neutral Ground, and 
must hereafter content ourselves with resting 
in their shadow, and try to keep the war 
spirit alive by cavalry raids, the robberies of 
the Skinners and Cowboys, and such expedi- 
tions as were sent out for foraging purposes. 
DeLancey's and Tarleton's cavalry scoured this 
part of the country in all directions, and Heath 
and others were scarcely less active. The 
Cowboys (ostensibly Royalists), and the Skin- 
ners on the American side, vied with each 
other in the atrocity of their acts ; they re- 
spected neither friend nor foe, only caring 
whether their victims had anything of value. 



Ube **1Fleutral 6rount)" 



421 



After Howe had established himself securely 
in the city, and Washington was at distant 
North Castle, the British had to take Fort 
Washington, on the northern part of New 
York or Manhattan Island, to make their con- 
quest complete. It would have been far wiser 
for the Continentals to have evacuated the 
stronghold, as it was evidently impossible to 
hold it in the face of such an army as was 
now in the city ; but General Greene, instead 
of doing this, reinforced the post against the 
advice of Washington. The result was as 
might have been foreseen, that the fort had to 
be, after a desperate struggle, surrendered, 
and the Americans lost just so many more of 
their best troops. 

Now, at last, the island was free from armed 
rebels, and there was no regular force of the 
enemy for many miles north of it ; but a num- 
ber of foraging bands or cavalry of both par- 
ties, were wandering through the country in 
all directions, and when these parties met 
there was apt to be more or less trouble. 

The first, and probably most tragic of these 
affairs occurred very soon after the events just 
related, or in the early winter of 1776. A 
party of Americans belonging to the army of 
General Charles Lee, which was still posted in 
the northern part of the county, came south 
as far as Ward's house (which is within the 
district we have attempted to describe), bent 



xrbe 

Sutrenficr 

of ff ort 

llClaebs 

ington 



422 



Xlbe **1Rcutral (3roun^" 



■Cbc 
Sbooting 
of Captain 
Campbell 



upon forage. In this time-honored mansion 
they found much that was to their taste, and 
after a few bottles of their absent host's very 
good wine had circulated among them, the 
discipline of Captain Delavan relaxed, and 
the guards were allowed to join in the general 
merry-making. As night came on they be- 
came as reckless of their safety as though 
the country was in a state of profound peace, 
and they were enjoying themselves in the 
village inn. 

But the American foragers were not left long 
to enjoy their carousal. As the night advanced 
one or two of the more sober ones heard the 
distant sound of horses' hoofs, and at once 
tried to arouse their stupefied and sleepy com- 
panions, but without much success, while the 
tramp of many hoofs grew nearer and nearer, 
as the troopers galloped over the frozen ground. 
The jingling of the sabres and the word of 
command proved that they were soldiers, and 
before even those who were able had time to 
attempt either to defend themselves or to 
escape, the house was surrounded, and Cap- 
tain Campbell, who was in charge of the Royal 
Cavalry, (for such the horsemen proved to be), 
demanded the immediate surrender of the 
Americans. Delavan, seeing that resistance 
was hopeless in the existing condition of his 
men, immediately complied, and stepped for- 
ward to hand his sword to Campbell, when a 



Hbe ''IReutral (3roun&" 



42: 



shot was fired' by one of the half-inebriated 
soldiers, and Campbell fell dead at the feet of 
the man whom only a second before he had 
considered his prisoner. 

This irresponsible act was nothing less, of 
course, than murder, as the terms of surrender 
had actually been agreed to, and the captured 
party would in all probability have been treated 
by Campbell as simple prisoners of war. This 
breach of faith, however, changed the entire 
aspect of things. The vilest passions of the 
British soldiers were aroused, and the only 
man with sufficient authority to control them 
was dead before their eyes. The fact that his 
life-blood was treacherously shed, served to 
justify almost any crime that might be com- 
mitted. It was hardly to be expected that 
they would take into consideration the intoxi- 
cated condition of the man, nor did they, but 
sprang forward, sabre in hand, and cut down 
the innocent and unfortunate Delavan first ; 
then they rushed into the house and took the 
lives of all whom they met, or, as the old farm- 
ers used to say, "stuck them like so many 
pigs." Some of the victims jumped from the 
windows, and were killed by those who re- 
mained outside to watch for them ; some tried 
to secrete themselves among barrels and rub- 
bish in the cellar, but were found and hacked 
to pieces. Not more than a half-dozen in all 
escaped to tell the story of this fearful night of 



■Cbc 

Sbootin^ 

of Captain 

Campbell 



424 



Zbc *'1Rcutral GrouuD" 



Zbe 

Sfciimcr'e 

1Rai^ upon 

an 016 

Ibomcs 

stea6 



the first year of the Republic. About twenty- 
five are known to have perished, and it would 
seem that Campbell was pretty well avenged. 

There are other incidents of the time handed 
down which are not so tragic ; we must 
now turn to an event less bloody but some- 
what more amusing. An old homestead, situ- 
ated not far from the scene just narrated, had 
not been deserted as were most of the houses 
in the vicinity. During the long, cold winter 
the occupants lived in constant fear of those 
marauders who subsisted by plundering the 
inhabitants, under cover of the pretended es- 
pousal of one cause or the other, the Skinners 
being the Continental robbers, while the Cow- 
boys claimed to be loyal to the King. They 
were both absolutely indifferent to the politics 
of the unfortunates whom they robbed. 

it was in January, 1777 ; the night had set 
in cold and forbidding ; a keen northwest wind 
had been blowing all day, and as the sun sank 
into heavy banks of clouds, the thermometer' 
almost touched the zero point. The snow 
creaked under the feet of the farmer as he 
returned to the house after attending to such 
cattle as the marauding parties had left him. 
Throwing his hat on a chair he remarked: 

"I hope those Skinners will leave us alone 
to-night ! " 

The darkness increased, and as the night 
wore on, all that could be heard was the roar 



Ubc '"IReutral Ground" 



425 



of the wind, as it drove the still drifting snow 
against the window-panes ; but a crackling 
fire burned in the ample fireplace, and all within 
was genial and comfortable, when — hark ! 
between the gusts of the winter wind could 
be heard the distant tramp of many feet. The 
farmer jumps up and rushes to the door to 
listen, — 710 there is no mistake, nearer and 
nearer come those ominous sounds, and soon 
a party of some fifteen men or more, can be 
seen advancing like spectres of the night. In 
a few moments they reach the house and 
enter without invitation. With small cere- 
mony, they make their business known, by 
demanding all the money and valuables to be 
handed over to them at once on pain of death. 
All are armed with the military muskets of 
the period, and the majority carry pistols and 
knives in addition, but, they have no other 
insignia of regular soldiers about them ex- 
cept cartridge boxes, belts, etc. They are, 
for the most part, dressed in the ordinary 
clothing of the common people of the country, 
with here and there a stolen military garment, 
made conspicuous by its incongruity. To 
their demand the owner of the house replies 
that he has no money, and is therefore unable 
to give it to them. The intruders reiterate 
their threats of instant death unless they get 
what they desire; but finding it useless to 
parley longer with the farmer, they leave a 



•Cbc 

-Shinnere 

1Rai^ upon 

an Olti 

Ibomcs 

stead 



426 



XTbe **1Rcutral Grouu5 " 



Ubc 

Shinncrs 

'tf\ai^ upon 

an 016 

■fljomcs 

stead 



couple of their number to guard him and 
his family, and proceed to search the house 
for themselves. After an absence of about 
half an hour, during which time all the 
upper rooms are thoroughly ransacked, the 
party return with very little booty and again 
threaten the unfortunate proprietor, who can 
only tell them just what he did before, that 
he has nothing to satisfy them; which answer 
is in all probability perfectly true, as previous 
visitors of the same kind had helped them- 
selves to everything worth carrying away on 
the premises. 

The Skinners, therefore — this particular 
band happened to be of that persuasion — 
thought, or at all events acted, as though all 
that was left for them to do was to carry out 
their threat of hanging the farmer. After 
warming themselves well before the great log 
fire, they obtained a rope and compelled him 
to leave his comfortable hearth and walk be- 
fore them into the cold winter night, with the 
pleasant prospect of being hanged from the 
first convenient tree. Silently they walked 
for a few moments, when the Skinners were 
much surprised by hearing their victim burst 
out laughing. They were curious as to the 
cause of his merriment, when he informed 
them that he was laughing because he thought 
it such a funny idea to suppose that hanging 
him would 1111 their pockets. This remark 



abe ''Beutral Ground" 



427 



set the robbers to thinking that there might 
be a little absurdity in what they were doing. 
After assuring themselves that he was not 
shamming in regard to having nothing, they 
let him return to his fireside, much to the sat- 
istaction of himself and family. In the morn- 
ing, he was not much astonished that his few 
remaining cattle were gone, but was, on the 
whole, glad to get off so easily. 

A similar visit occurred at the same mansion 
a few years later, but before the close of the 
war. A friend of the family spent the night 
at the house on his way north, and upon part- 
ing the next day left thirty pounds in coin in 
charge of the daughter of the farmer, think- 
ing perhaps that it would be less unsafe in 
her possession than on the highway. Be this 
as it may, everything was reasonably quiet 
around the place during the remainder of the 
day, but shortly after nightfall, a small party 
of Cowboys (for they were Cowboys this 
time) was observed approaching. The young 
woman immediately concealed the money 
about her person, and putting on a bold front 
prepared to receive them. Soon they entered, 
but instead of demanding valuables in a gen- 
eral way, they went immediately up to the 
girl and asked for the money that had been 
given her that morning. She, of course, de- 
nied that she had any, whereupon one of the 
marauders seized her and shook her so vio- 



H ipartie 
of Coves 

boss 
IDtsit tbc 

same 
Iftomes 

6tea6 



428 



Xlbe **1Fleutral (Broun^" 



Zbe 
Uefferte' 
A)ansion 



lently that the bag of money fell upon the 
floor; the man instantly let go of her, picked 
up the gold and departed, followed by his 
companions. It was never known how they 
became acquainted with the fact that the 
money was in the house, but it was always 
suspected that one or more of the band must 
have been looking in the window when the 
young woman received it. 

It becomes unavoidable, in writing of the 
Revolutionary occurrences of this locality, to 
change the scenes constantly, as there was 
no connected campaign or regular army in the 
vicinity after Howe drove the Federalists from 
Chatterton Heights. There was only a series 
of events entirely independent of each other. 
Somewhat nearer Kingsbridge than the home- 
stead visited by the Skinners and the Cowboys, 
stood the Lefferts' mansion, which, unlike the 
other, was deserted by its proprietor, who, 
probably being a loyalist, had fled to the city. 
At all events he wrote a very queerly worded 
petition to Congress from New York City, 
which ran somewhat as follows: 

" To the Continental Congress &c. 
"Most Respected Sirs : 
"Will your Honorable Body grant a pass for my two 
children to leave my mansion in Westchester County, and 
proceed to meet me in New York City. The house above 
referred to is, or of late was, occupied by thirty men in the 
Colonial service, who have eaten all the horned cattle, 
sheep and pigs, and driven nigh unto death all the horses; 



tlbe *'1Reutral Ground" 



429 



and I now fear for my children confined in the house; and 
1 would therefore humbly beseech your Honorable Body to 
grant a pass for the said children and such servants as may 
be deemed necessary to their safety in the present unsettled 
condition of the country. With the Greatest Respect Your 
Most Obedient and Humble Servant, 

" DiRCK Lefferts." 

Now, in reading this, the question that one 
naturally asks is, did he fear the children were 
to be eaten, or driven to death ? 

Again we change the scene. It was the 
dead of winter, and the snow lay thick upon 
the ground, when General Parsons collected a 
force of American troopers for a foraging ex- 
pedition into Morrisania. The party of a 
hundred or more,i<lesiring to be as silent as 
possible, to avoid a conflict with the Royal 
Refugees under Colonel De Lancey, were all 
put into sleighs and driven rapidly through 
Morrisania Manor towards Kingsbridge. No 
merry jingle of bells in this sleighing party; 
no laugh, no sound save the grim click of a 
musket's lock, or the rattle of the officers' side 
arms. On and on they sped over the silent, 
yielding snow, until their goal was almost 
reached, when suddenly an order rang out 
loud and clear upon the frosty air of midnight, 
and on all sides, like spectres from their graves, 
appeared armed and mounted men. Undis- 
mayed for a time, the Americans defended 
their sleighs with courage, almost with des- 
peration, but the Light Horse were too nu- 



iFate of a 

jforagin^ 

ErpeMs 

tion 



43° 



Ube **1Weutral GrouuD" 



"Cbe 

:f6anquet 

at tbc 

Grabatn 

flDanston 



merous for them, and ere long they were cut 
to pieces or captured. 

Before the retreat of the Americans north- 
ward the Westchester Church was used by 
General Heath as a hospital, and he quartered 
a number of his cavalry in the rectory, while 
the unfortunate rector, being a Royalist, was 
compelled to hide in a neighbor's stable. 

The Wilkins family did much to protect the 
English clergy during the war. Being strong 
Tories they threw open their house, and even 
had a secret closet in the chimney, where 
several were hidden safely when searched for 
by the Colonial troops. The Graham house 
was burned by accident during a magnificent 
banquet, given by Colonel Fowler, of the 
British army, who was using it as his temporary 
headquarters. The table had been covered 
with flowers and beautifully decorated with 
cut-glass and silver, and the guests, many of 
whom were ladies, were strolling about the 
grounds in the balmy summer evening, when 
a servant suddenly rushed from the house 
and informed the Colonel that the building was 
burning. That officer, not in the least dis- 
composed, calmly ordered the tables brought 
out on the lawn, and seated the company, 
who watched the conflagration while enjoy- 
ing their repast. The cool and gallant Col- 
onel was unfortunately killed in a skirmish, 
very soon after this event. 



Ube '"IFleutral Ground" 



431 



The skirmishes between the Light Horse of 
the two armies were entirely too numerous 
and too barren of permanent result to chron- 
icle in their entirety. One or two more, how- 
ever, to show the general character of these 
expeditions may not be out of place. 

Colonel Burr, afterwards so famous, or, 
rather, infamous, as the slayer of Hamilton, 
destroyed Colonel De Lancey's blockhouse, 
after a slight skirmish. The Colonel secretly 
approached the building in the night with 
quite a large number of men, threw a hand- 
grenade into the building, setting it on fire 
and killing a number of men. Most of the 
rest were captured while attempting to es- 
cape. 

At the time of Washington's retreat before 
White Plains, a series of forts and earthworks 
were erected from the East River to the Hud- 
son across Morrisania and the lower part of 
the present city of Yonkers. After their de- 
sertion by the Continentals, these works were 
often utilized by both parties in their expe- 
ditions against each other, and held for longer 
or shorter periods of time as might be advis- 
able. General Heath, of the American forces, 
often occupied them, as did Lincoln and many 
another Continental commander, and on the 
British side. Simcoe, Tarleton. and Colonel 
James De Lancey made favorite resorts of 
them. 



Sfeira 
mfebes 
between 
the XIwo 
Birmies 



43" 



TLbc **1Heutral Ground 



misbea 
between 
tbc "Cwo 
Bcmies 



At one time the American forces, in con- 
siderable strengtii, advanced to Kingsbridge 
and took up their position for some time be- 
hind newly made earthworks. The sentries 
annoyed each other by continual firing, though 
it was against the orders of both armies by an 
agreement between their officers. As time 
passed, however, the men were better con- 
trolled on both sides, and became more accus- 
tomed to each other's presence, until finally 
the British put a raw Scotch recruit on guard, 
who immediately discharged his gun at the 
American sentry across the stream, who as 
quickly replied, and wounded an officer who 
happened to be standing near. This brought 
out the guard and its commander, who called 
across the river, "I thought we had agreed 
not to have any more of that business." The 
Continental replied, "Your man began it." 
"What! this Scotchman.^ he shall be pun- 
ished " : and in future there was no more 
firing. In fact the sentries became so amica- 
ble after a while that they would talk to- 
gether, and even exchange pipes, tobacco, 
etc., by tying them to stones and throwing 
them across the creek. 

Out of the British works at Kingsbridge 
often rode Colonel Simcoe and Colonel Tarle- 
ton on expeditions against the "Rebels." 
Sometimes success attended their efforts, and 
at others they were fruitless. On at least one 



Ubc **1Flcutual (3roun&" 



433 



of these occasions they were accompanied by 
Prince William Henry (Duke of Clarence), 
afterwards William IV. of England (1782). 
He was then a junior officer in the navy. 
Just above Manhattan Island, on the Albany 
Pike, stood the "Old French Inn," kept by 
Gainos, who served many distinguished peo- 
ple in his day, as they travelled northward in 
the old mail coach. When the war broke 
out and the American army was in that vicin- 
ity, many of the officers frequented the tavern, 
and even the commander (who was very 
fond of French cooking) often dined there, 
and is said to have become quite fond of the 
dishes of Gainos. At all events, when the 
Continentals retired northward, the poor 
Frenchman thought the British would mal- 
treat him for having fed the rebels, and he, 
therefore, left his inn in charge of some neigh- 
bors, and fled with Washington's army. 

The first night after the landlord's departure 
the house was attacked by a party of Cow- 
boys, who evidently thought the place practi- 
cally deserted. In this supposition it happened 
that they were mistaken, for a number of the 
country people had collected in the tavern as 
was their wont, in spite of the absence of the 
proprietor, to gossip over the exciting condi- 
tion of affairs. When they saw the band of 
robbers they determined to defend the place, 
and as few people went out at night in those 



ffrcncb 
Hun" 



434 



Ube **1Reutral 6roun&" 



•Cbe "0l^ 
iPrencb 
Unn" 



troublous times unarmed, they were all in pos- 
session of weapons of some kind. Therefore 
when the marauders demanded admittance to 
the house, they were much surprised to be 
received by a shower of bullets, and soon 
came to the conclusion that the wisest thing 
for them to do was to leave the vicinity as 
rapidly as possible. 

So the Cowboys picked up one of their 
number who had been hit, and proceeded 
through the meadows, woods, and orchards, 
for they seldom followed the roads, towards 
Kingsbridge. They had not gone far when 
they discovered that their wounded com- 
panion was dying from the effects of his in- 
juries. This discovery made a halt necessary; 
they laid the poor fellow down on a grassy 
bank in an old orchard, and seated them- 
selves, waiting for him to breathe his last. 
They were not delayed long, for after a few 
gasps his blood-stained soul departed. Small 
ceremony sufficed for the poor fellow's fun- 
eral ; the man who happened to be nearest 
simply said : "It 's all over with him ; let 's 
be moving, or more of us may get the same 
pill." Then they picked up the body again, 
as it might serve to track them to their fast- 
ness should they leave it where it lay, and 
carried it to a well that happened to be under 
one of the trees ; there they let the poor 
wretch fall into the water, and he was soon 



Ubc **lKleutral erount)" 



435 



lost to sight, after which they proceeded on 
their way. 

The next day some of the residents came 
for water and were horrified to find the liquid 
stained with blood, and to this day the spot is 
called the bloody well. Many are the tales 
that are told of supernatural sights and sounds 
that emanate from the locality. As to the 
truth of the ghostly part of the occurrences, 
we are unable to say, but certain it is that 
even as recently as our own times, the mould- 
ering remains of a man were taken from the 
well. Let us hope that the removal and 
decent interment of the body also quieted the 
restless soul. 

Once more the scene changes, not much as 
to locality, but radically as to events. The 
brave but unfortunate Stockbridge Indians 
had espoused the cause of the Colonies, and 
came down through Yonkers nearly to Kings- 
bridge on an expedition against Simcoe's 
forces. That officer having got wind of the 
enemy's approach, at once prepared to give 
them a warm reception. Selecting a well- 
wooded portion of the road he concealed 
most of his troops on both sides of it ; then he 
sent a small party of cavalry northward to at- 
tract the attention of the Indians. They had 
not far to go ; for soon they descried them si- 
lently advancing in single file as is the wont 
of these sons of the forest ; but long before 



•Cbc 



43*^ 



IT be '"IReutral GrouiiD" 



Zbc 
Defeat 
of tbc 
Stocks 
biib^e 
■flnMane 



the troopers had discovered their swarthy foes 
the sharp eyes of the Indians had seen the 
horsemen and prepared for action. As was 
planned, the British horse only skirmished 
lightly and then fell back, the Indians follow- 
ing them in hot pursuit, until they were 
within the ambush, where over forty, out 
of a total of sixty, were killed or captured. 
When the old chief saw the situation he 
shouted: "Save yourselves, my children ; my 
time has come and I am ready," and he fell 
dead with a bullet in his heart. This leader was 
quite a well-known man for one of his race, 
having visited England and been presented 
at court. He could read and write fluently 
and had a very good idea of history. 

To show what a crude idea the British min- 
istry had of the topography of this country, it 
may not be out of way here to insert an order 
received by Lord Admiral Howe : 

" As the County of Westchester is in a very unsettled con- 
dition, and our troops are much hnrrassed by the ' Rebels,' 
whenever in that vicinity, you will send a couple of frigates 
up the Bronx River, to protect our forces and fire into the 
enemy whenever seen." 

Now as this stream has an average breadth 
of about seventy-five feet and a depth in some 
places of not more than eighteen inches, it 
might have troubled his lordship to obey this 
command. Did they confuse this river with 
the Hudson ? 



ITbe **1Reutral (3roun&" 



437 



In 1778, Colonel Gist of the Continental 
army occupied quarters near the Babcock 
mansion, where then resided Mrs. Babcock, 
the handsome widow of the Rev. Luke Bab- 
cock, and it was whispered that the gallant 
Colonel had selected this locality for his com- 
mand, which was much nearer the enemy's 
line than was at all safe or advisable for so 
small a force, that he might pay his addresses 
to this fair widow. Be that as it may, Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Simcoe got wind of his where- 
abouts in some way, and resolved upon the 
capture of the entire command. He therefore 
sent out his forces at night to surround the 
encampment of Gist. His plan apparently 
succeeded perfectly ; the Americans were not 
in any way disturbed until the enemy sup- 
posed they had entirely surrounded their in- 
tended victims. The Colonel himself was 
oblivious of all outside events, for never had 
the beautiful widow been more engaging, and 
never had he remained at her house so late. 
But all evenings however enchanting, must 
come to an end, and this one was no excep- 
tion ; so finally he bade his fair friend adieu 
and started for his camp. Just as he was de- 
parting reluctantly, looking back as he went 
to see her waving a final farewell with her 
handkerchief, he heard a shot quickly followed 
by a scattering volley. Forgetting instantly 
his romance, he rushed rapidly to where his 



Ubc 

Encounter 

between 

Colonel 

Oi8t 

and tbe 

IRosaliets 



438 



Ube **1Klcutral Ground" 



"Cbc 

Encounter 

Lictwccn 

Colonel 

ffiiBt 

an^ tbc 

IRo^eaUsts 



men were quartered ; there he found every- 
thing in the direst confusion. Barring his 
weakness for the widow, the Colonel was a 
good soldier and soon restored a semblance of 
order even in the face of the enemy. He took 
in the situation at a glance and resolved to 
fight his way to the main army northward. 
It is very doubtful if he would have been able 
to do this, however, had it not been for the fact 
that one of the enemy's commands had lost 
its way and thereby left a passage open for 
him, which he was not slow to use. He 
therefore reached his friends, not indeed 
without fighting, but with the loss of only 
about one third of his command. How his 
affairs prospered with the widow after this 
interruption we know not ; but let us hope 
that if he again ventured in that quarter, he 
did not involve his entire command in this 
sort of a conquest. 

When the Skinners and the Cowboys were 
struggling for the sovereignty of the " Neutral 
Ground, " and shortly after one of the scions of 
one of our old county families had been shot 
down while standing under a walnut tree* near 
the door of his mansion by one of these gen- 
try' for refusing to blacken his boots, the peo- 
ple found it necessary to bury all valuables 
which they chanced to possess to escape these 
marauders from both sides. 

One day it was whispered abroad that a 



Ubc **1Rcutral Ground" 



439 



rather stronger party of Skinners than usual 
was about to visit the district of lower East- 
chester. Several of the people came together, 
unhung the bell of the "Old East Chester 
Church," filled it with money and other valu- 
ables and buried it. Among these individuals 
were two brothers named Wilson. One of 
these young men, Harry, was a drunken, 
worthless chap, who had caused the death of 
his beautiful and devoted wife by his brutality, 
while the other seems to have been a very 
respectable member of society. Some time 
after the visit of the before-mentioned party 
of Skinners, both brothers (who were not on 
good terms) by a strange coincidence resolved 
to dig up the bell and procure the treasure on 
the same night. Harry, whose wife had re- 
cently died, came to the spot first, with the 
necessary tools, and also a bottle of his never- 
failing companion, brandy. The night was 
dark and cold, and the winter wind sighed in 
the old apple-tree over his head as he struck 
the first blow upon the frozen ground with 
his pick. The work was severe as the 
ground was hard from frost, but with the aid 
of many a pull upon the black bottle, he soon 
had the satisfaction of hearing the pick ring 
upon the metal of the bell. After cleaning out 
the dirt a little and taking a look at the precious 
things within, he sat down to rest and finish 
the last of the contents of his beloved bottle. 



•Cbc 
3Burfe^ 
Cburcb 



440 



Ube **1Reutral OrounD" 



■Cbc 
3Buric^ 
Cburcb 

36ell 



He had hardly done this and sent the empty 
vessel crashing amongst the stones and debris 
of the excavation, when he thought he saw a 
light approaching. He took an instant to as- 
sure himself he was not mistaken, then put 
out his own lantern and stepped behind a tree 
to await his visitor. In a few moments he 
saw his brother, pick in hand, advance to the 
spot, and heard him exclaim: "What! some- 
body has been here before me, but they must 
have left hurriedly, for nothing is taken." 
Harry waited no longer, but stepping from 
behind the tree, informed his brother that his 
time had come, and suiting his action to his 
words, seized his unfortunate victim by the 
throat. For a time they struggled, but the first 
comer, made strong by drink and frenzy, soon 
conquered, and left his opponent dead upon 
the ground. The next morning a neighbor dis- 
covered the remains, but the murderer was 
never seen again. Strange to say, however, he 
only took from the bell just what belonged to 
him, leaving the rest as he had found it. 

The remains of the murdered man were 
buried in the old churchyard from which the 
bell was taken, and a few days later his 
fiancee, who had died from the shock of the 
news, was laid by his side. The bell was 
soon replaced in the church tower, and 
rings out each Sunday morning, as it has done 
since the time of good Queen Anne. It is 



Zbc **1Rcutral Ground" 



441 



said that upon every anniversary of this hor- 
rible event the bell tolls, and suppressed 
groans are heard in the time-honored tower.' 

One evening an old Indian, the last of his 
race, sat at the door of his wigwam watching 
the fading rays of the chill October sun disap- 
pear from the western sky, when two rough- 
looking men and a dog crossed the farther 
end of the clearing. The chief, whose head 
the ashes of time had long since whitened, 
recognized the newcomers at once to be 
members of a band of Skinners, supposed 
some mischief might be brewing, and re- 
solved to follow the miscreants. They led 
him across a brook and through the woods, 
until they came to a small hut where a third 
member of the band was making a fire. The 
Indian secreted himself in some bushes within 
hearing and awaited events. One of the men 
whom he had followed hailed the man by the 
fire and said : 

" Did you get the girl, Paul ? " 

"Yes, she is in the hut." 

" Did she tell where the old man's money 
was buried ?" 

"No." 

"Then she must die. Bring her out." 

The man called Paul disappeared within the 
hut, and soon returned leading a terrified but 
still beautiful young girl, whom the ruffians 
tied to a tree and then prepared to shoot. 



UnSian's 

IRescue of 

a loung 

Oirl 



442 



XTbe **1Reutral GrounD" 



HnOlS 

UnJian's 

IRescuc of 

a ij'oun^ 

Oirl 



"1 will give you one more chance," said 
the man who appeared to be the leader. 
"Tell us where the money lies buried." 

"1 know of no money," was the faint, 
gentle answer. 

"Then prepare to die. O^ie — two — " 

He raised his gun to fire at the word three, 
but before he could utter it the unerring aim 
of the Indian had sent a bullet through his 
heart, and before his companions could re- 
cover from their surprise the old chief rushed 
in with knife and tomahawk and despatched 
them both. He picked up the poor girl, who 
had fainted, and carried her to his wigwam, 
where she was soon revived. The poor old 
man, however, perished at the battle of White 
Plains while fighting gallantly in the Colonial 
army.® 

But our tales are finished, and the "Neutral 
Ground " is neutral no longer. The great city 
has stretched out its long arms and encircled 
it in its grasp. The days of the Cowboy and 
the Skinner are over. The British soldier and 
his Hessian ally are seen no more. Clinton, 
Howe, Washington, and Lee, all sleep with 
their fathers, and the drum and the bugle of 
the Revolution are silent. 



Soldier rest, thy warfare o'er, 

Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking; 
Dream of battle-fields no more, 

Days of danger, nights of waking." 



Tibc **1Heutral (Brount)" 



443 



NOTES AND REFERENCES. 



1 . The name is taken from Jonas Broncks, one of the 

early proprietors of the district. 

2. The original owner of the property was Throgmorton. 

Throg's Neck is a corruption of Throgmorton's 
Neck. 

3. Thomas Pell was the first proprietor. 

4. The shot was tired by Lieutenant Paddock. 

5. We do not mean to assert that there was a thermometer 

as we understand it. 

6. Some tiiirty years ago this tree was cut down by the 

proprietor. Some of the wood has come into the 
possession of the writer, through a relative to whom 
it was given. It now forms a couple of book-cases. 

7. Some writers state that a Hessian officer committed 

this deed, but we think the Cowboy version is cor- 
rect. 

8. The last two anecdotes were told to the writer by Mr. 

William L. Stone, the historian. 
R. A. Bolton's Historv of the County of Westchester. 

New York, 1848. 
General Heath's A/rwoi>s. Boston, 1798. 
Itinerary of General Washington^ from June 75, /yj?, to 

December 2^, fj8}. Philadelphia, 1892. 
Colonel John Thomas Scharf's History of Westchester 

County, New York. Philadelphia, 1886. 
Works and Documents of William L. Stone. 
]oHti¥\SKi.^s American Revolution. Boston, 1801. 
William Watson Waldron's Huguenots of Westchester. 

New York, 1864. 
Guide to New Rochelle (1842). 

Papers on Yonkers, by Henry B. Dawson (26 copies printed 
for private circulation only.) Yonkers, 1866. 



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In the Midst of Life. 

Tales of Soldiers and Civilians. By Ambrose Bierce. 
12° $1.25 

" No one could forget the impressions of these grimly powerful vignettes, 
chiefly of our Civil War. This little volume deserves the widest circulation as a 
peace tract of the first order in the present craze for bloodshed." — N. )'. Fast. 

Boston Neighbours. 

In Town and Out. By Agnes Blake Poor. 12°. $1.25 

" A distinctly readable little volume, comprising eight clever stories and char- 
acter studies by a shrewd observer of men, women, and things. The author 
writes in a sprightly satire, with an occasional touch of genuine pathos, and shows 
a frank appreciation of Boston characteristics." — N. J'. Commercial Advtrriiier. 



G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, New York and London 



IReccr&s ot an ^Earlier Xlime 



Knickerbocker's History of New York 

By WASHINGTON IRVING. Fan TwiUer Edition. 
From new plates. With 225 original illustrations by 
E. W. Kemble. Each page surrounded by an appropriate 
artistic border. 2 vols. 8°^ gilt tops, with slip covers, 
$6.00. Three-quarter levant .... $12.00 
Other editions from 73 cts. upwards. 

" A work honourable to English literature, manly, bold, and so 
altogether original, without being extravagant, as to stand alone 
among the labours of men." — Blackwood^ s Magazine. 

Last Days of Knickerbocker Life in 
New York 

By ABRAM C. DAYTON. With an introduction by 
Richard B. Kimball. New edition, re-set with selected 
full-page illustrations, specially produced for this volume. 
Octavo, gilt top $2.50 

" This interesting work, written in 1871 and originally published 
in 1880, is now for the first time put before the public in a shape be- 
fitting its merits as a historic record of an interesting period in the 
life of this city. The volume is illustrated with a number of portraits 
and curious old drawings." — N. V. Sun. 

Historic New York 

Half Moon Series. Edited by Maud Wilder Goodwin, 

Alice Carrington Royce, Ruth Putnam, and Eva Palmer 

Brownell. 

First Series. With 29 Illustrations. 8°. . . $2.=;o 

Second Series. Illustrated. 8" . . . . $2.50 

" A delightfully attractive volume possessing much historic value, 
and illustrating a careful, conscientious scholarship worthy of high 
praise. The papers describe old New York in a simple, vivid, 
picturesque, and truthful fashion.'' — T/te Congrcgationc.iist. 



Iknicherc 

bocher'6 

Ibistorie of 

IRew ISork 



%ast S)a\;s 

of 

Ikittchcis 

bocfcet 

tttfe 

In mew 

Both 



"bistoric 
mew ISorl; 



G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, New York & London 



MILITARY HISTORY. 
THE ART OF WAR. 

The Middle Ages, From the Fourth to the Fourteenth Century. 
By Charles Oman, M.A., F.S.A., Fellow of All Souls' College, 
Oxford. 8°, pp. 667. With 24 plates of maps, plans and illus- 
trations ......... $4.50 

The above volume forms the second of a series of four in which the 
author intends to present a general sketch of the history of the art of 
war from the Greek and Roman times down to the beginning of the 
19th century. The first volume in chronological order, which will 
cover the classical division of the subject, will be issued shortly. 
The third volume will be devoted to the 15th, i6th, and 17th cent- 
uries, while the fourth volume will treat of the military history of 
the 1 8th century, and the Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars down 
to Waterloo. 

THE STORY OF THE CIVIL WAR. 

A Concise Account of the War in the United States of America 
between 1861 and 1865. Hy John Codman Ropks. 
To be complete in four parts, printed in four octavo volumes, 
with comprehensive maps and battle plans. Each part will be com- 
plete in itself and will be sold separately. 

Part I. — Narrative of Events to the Opening of the Campaigns of 
1862, with 5 maps, S" (now ready), pp. xiv. + 274 . $1.50 

" The most complete, comprehensive, and interesting account of the Civil War 
which has ever been published. . . . We unhesitatingly recommend it as con- 
taining a we.Tlth of information that no one can afford to be deprived ol."—New 
Haven Eve. Lender. 

" The work is thoroughly impartial, and moreover is free from individual 
caprice. . . . The manner is much that of a skilled attorney stating his case, 
only in this instance the writer states the case for both sides." — Cincinnati 
Commercial Gazette. 

Part II. — Ready shortly. 

DECISIVE BATTLES SINCE 
W^ATERLOO. 

A Continuation of Creasy's " Decisive Battles of the World." By 
Tho.mas W. Knox. With 59 plans and ilhistr.itions. 8", 

pp. viii. + 490 $2.50 

" Must go wherever Creasy's invaluable preceding book of 1852 has gone, and 
perhaps where it has not found its way. . . . The author has done his work 
well and attractively." — H art/or d Post. 

THE NAVAL WAR OF 1812 ; 

or. The History of the United States Navy during the Last War 
with Great Britain. By Theodork Roosevelt. 3d edition, 
8°, pp. xxxviii. + 531 ...... $2. 50 

" Shows in so young an author the best promise for a good historian — fearlessness 
of statement, caution, endeavor to be impartial, and a brisk and interesting way 
of telling events." -iV. Y. Times. 

" The reader of Mr. Roosevelt's book unconsciously makes up his mind that he 
is reading history and not romance, and yet no romance could surpass it in 
interest." —Philadclfihia Tunes. 

G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS, New York and London. 



The City History Club 
of New York 

♦♦♦♦ 

The City History Club aims to awaken a general 
interest in the history and traditions of New York, 
believing that such interest is one of the surest 
guarantees of civic improvement. Its work is car* 
lied on through three channels : 

I. — A Normal Class 
3. — Popular Classes 
3. — Public Lectures 

For further information, conditions of member- 
ship, etc., address 

Secretary City History Club, 
IX West 50th Street, 
New York. 



LIBRfiRY OF CONGRESS 



Pablished monthly. Per number, locts. 
Sabacription price for the 12 numbers, $1.00 

The Second Series of the Half Moon 
Papers will commence in January, 1898, 
with a paper on "Slavery in Old New 
York," by Edwin V. Morgan. 
"Tammany Hall," by Talcott Williams; 
"Old Family Names," by Berthold Fernow; 
"Bowling Green," by Spencer Trask; 
"Prisons and Punishments," by Elizabeth 
Dike Lewis ; " Breuklen," by Harrington 
Putnam ; " Old Taverns and Posting Inns," 
by Elizabeth Brown Cutting ; " The New 
York Press in the iSth Century," by Char- 
lotte M. Martin and Benjamin Ellis Martin ; 
" Neutral Ground," by Charles Pryer ; " The 
Doctor in Old New York," by Francke H. 
Bosworth; "Old Schools and Schoolmas- 
ters," by Tunis G. Bergen ; " The Battle of 
Harlem Heights," by William R. Shepard. 



G. P. PUTNAM'S SONS 
New York and London 



014 220 081 8 

Cbe Ibalf^nDoon Series 

Series of 1898 



